Wall Street Should Be Worried, ‘Exasperated’ Obama Tells CNBC

President Barack Obama, in a broadcast interview ahead of a Wednesday meeting with congressional leaders, said he is frustrated with Republicans over their efforts to undo the health care law and the partial government shutdown that resulted from the standoff over the law and government spending.

“And am I exasperated? Absolutely, I’m exasperated, because this is entirely unnecessary,” Mr. Obama said in an interview with CNBC.

Mr. Obama, who met with financial sector executives earlier Wednesday, said Wall Street should be concerned about the political stalemate because they could have profound effects on the economy. “This time I think Wall Street should be concerned,” Mr. Obama said. “When you have a situation in which a faction is willing to default on U.S. obligations, then we are in trouble.”

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